This award recognizes OU students who go above and beyond in the area of volunteerism. This award is in connection with the Oklahoma Standard, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum campaign, committed to promoting these three acts – service, honor, and kindness.
Please submit your hours no later than April 20 of the year you are graduating to be considered for the award.
Find detailed instructions below.
The OU Standard Award recognizes OU Students who go above and beyond in the area of volunteerism.
This award is in connection with the Oklahoma Standard, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum campaign, committed to promoting the following three acts:
SERVICE means giving your time to someone in need.
HONOR the victims and survivors of the 1995 bombing.
No act of KINDNESS, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
Students completing the designated number of volunteer hours will be honored with a graduation cord as a symbol for the impact they have made on the community.
Green - a green cord will be awarded for those completing a total of 350 hours before they graduate or 100 hours within one year.
Blue - a blue cord will be awarded for those completing a total of 450 hours before they graduate or 150 hours within one year.
As an OU student, staff, or faculty, we encourage you to track your service hours, especially for future scholarships, awards, internships, and job applications.
OU values and encourages others to give back to the community. Acts of service done freely outside of academic requirements or work count towards The OU Standard Award.
Please submit your service hours no later than April 20 of the year you are graduating to be considered for the award.
Q: What if I am a student at the Health Sciences Center?
A: The OU Standard Award is also recognized at the HSC. Students at the HSC Campus log their hours through the GivePulse platform. Logging hours serves as the opt-in for the program, so they do not need to apply for the award. Each semester, we pull the logs and filter the information by graduating students. Students who are eligible are then contacted about the award! The required number of hours varies, so for detailed information, please visit the OUHSC Standard Award page. For HSC, log volunteer hours.
Q: What counts as volunteer hours?
A: OU values and encourages others to give back to the community. Acts of service done freely outside of academic requirements or work count towards The OU Standard Award. Eligible service does not include donating funds, political lobbying (non-partisan voter registration is an eligible activity), religious instruction, conducting worship service, proselytizing, court-ordered community service, and serving only family members (source: President's Volunteer Service Award Program).
Q: What if I am part of a service organization? (The Big Event, Food Pantry, etc.)
A: Any direct service with community organizations or clients including service projects, day-of events, etc. can count toward the award. Meetings and administrative work do not count.
Q: Do summer camps/mission trips count?
A: Yes! Please only count the hours you were actively volunteering.
Q: Do summers and break count?
A: Yes!
Any other questions? Please contact Leadership & Volunteerism.
